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Tom, Sorry about the mistake in the distance - I knew it was only 20.5 light years away, but I misquoted today's Times.
Luna, I'm convinced there are others in the universe, and I find this discovery very exciting. However, if we do eventually discover intelligent life on another planet, I hope they prove to be a bit more civilised than us.
Octavius: Don't you believe as other Christians here, that the earth is the only inhabited planet and the universe was created just for us, or do you think there could be life in space?
Loosehead, that's no time at all really. Just think if this new planet had been discovered in the 1960s and we'd sent a message immediately, assuming the recipents answered right away we would by now have received their reply.